Chris Ball enters his fourth season at Arizona State under head coach Todd Graham, and 16th season overall. After serving as defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach in 2012, Ball was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2013.

Ball helped mentor safety Damarious Randall to First Team All-Pac-12 and has guided him to being a projected draft pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He also helped lead safety Jordan Simone and cornerback Lloyd Carrington to stand out seasons. Under Ball, the secondary accounted for 10 of the 14 interceptions by the Sun Devils.

Under Ball, ASU finished 3rd in the conference in passing yards allowed in Pac-12 games (222.3 per game). The secondary posted 42 interceptions in the last two seasons, second in the FBS behind only Houston (44). Five of the interceptions this season was returned for a TD.

Darby, a Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist, was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week for the performance against USC and was also honored as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week as well for the effort. Darby led the team with 13 passes defended in 2013, which was tied for fourth in the Pac-12.

Nelson’s 0.4 interceptions per game mark were 19th nationally and fourth in the conference whiled his six total interceptions also paced the Pac-12.

Irabor finished eighth on the team with 54 tackles in 2013. He has 5.5 tackles for loss on the year, an impressive statistic considering he had ZERO in the previous two seasons.

Ball made an instant impact in his first season with the Sun Devils as he ushered a turnaround that saw the secondary make drastic improvements in passing defense and passing efficiency defense. His unit led the Pac-12 in both categories and ranked third in the nation in the former (167.92 yards per game) and 10th in the nation in the latter (105.45) after finishing near the bottom of the Pac-12 in both categories in 2011. Safeties Alden Darby and Keelan Johnson combined for eight interceptions to lead a defense that finished fourth in the nation with 21 interceptions. Johnson led the team with five interceptions and tied for 17th in the country with .38 interceptions per game. In addition, cornerback Osahon Irabor led the team with 14 passes defensed and didn't have a single pass interference called against him all season.

Before Arizona State, Ball worked with Washington State University, where he was defensive coordinator. He also spent time at Pitt and Alabama, mentoring numerous NFL talents.

In his four seasons at Washington State, Ball served as assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He arrived at WSU after spending the 2007 season as secondary coach at Pitt. In 2009, Ball was named the best position coach in the Pac-10 by The Sporting News.

During his only season with the Panthers, the Pitt defense ranked fourth nationally in pass defense (167.3 ypg) and seventh in total defense (297.7 ypg).

From 2003 to 2006, Ball coached the secondary for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 2004, Ball's secondary led the nation in pass defense, allowing just 113.1 passing yards per game and finishing second nationally in pass efficiency defense. The following season the Alabama secondary ranked fifth in both pass defense (160.8 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (97.8 rating), and the Crimson Tide ranked second nationally in total defense. In 2006, Ball oversaw the progress of free safety Roman Harper, who earned All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.

From 2000 to 2002, Ball coached defensive backs at Washington State, mentoring future NFL great Marcus Trufant. During his three seasons, WSU's defense compiled 56 interceptions, including 26 during the 2001 campaign, which tied for second nationally.

The St. Louis, Mo., native and 1981 graduate of Webster Grove High played football at Missouri Western State College and later served as a graduate assistant and defensive coordinator at his alma mater.

The 1985 All-American defensive back coached at both Northeast Missouri State (1986-87) and Akron (1987-88) before joining Mike Price's staff in 1989. He coached at Coffeyville Community College (1990-94), Western Oregon State College (1995-96) and Missouri Western State (1997-98).

Prior to joining the Cougar staff in 2000, Ball spent the 1999 season as defensive coordinator for Idaho State head coach Larry Lewis.

Ball and his wife Tandi have three children, son Brennan (20) and daughters Abby (9) and Ella Grace (2).